Rory stops in his tracks when he hears Allison say there's nothing to do with the plates. He shrugs, puts the plates back down, and takes a bite out of his apple thinking, I can see why Mom likes this place so much...just like home. With magic and monsters and stuff, but I'm betting she didn't know that...
"Yeah, I'm down, my last class lets out at 1530, so any time after that works for me."
Not particularly, no. Classes may be occasionally be relevant in terms of plot, but for the most part, I don't think you came here to roleplay going to school or doing classwork. XD Scenes in any class will be strictly informational and to help advance the story... hence heading there today instead of jumping ahead to later.
Incidentally, the player characters have English as their first class this quarter, like all other students attending the school - Miskatonic University's strong emphasis on research and study means that they're very insistent about making sure students can communicate the results of those studies in both written and oral form, so a certain amount of English is a requirement for all courses of study.
Male Human Expert 2 Marshal 1 [HP: 20, Init: +1, Perc: +7, AC: 11, Tch: 11, Flt: 10, Fort: 2 (+4 vs environment and suffocation), Ref: 1, Will: 3]
Just wanted to make sure.
"I'm sure I'll find my way back here at about that point. There are a couple of other things I want to look into before we all become demon hunters or some such - I need to rewatch Supernatural, for starters - but if I'm late, go ahead and start the discussion without me. For now, let's get to our first class and see what this place is like under the sunlight."
Note to self: She hesitated in the doorway. Find out what Allison knows, slash what she's not letting on.
"Or if her grimoire is called 'The Book of Shadows,'" Rory chuckles. "Right, off to class, see you chums later," he said hoisting up his pack and heading out the door.
Male Human Strange Paradox who Works the System 1 M 12/12 | S 9/9 | I 16/16 (E1)
"Yeah," says Denton as he pulls out his class schedule cheat sheet. After studying it briefly, he hefts his backpack, grabs his walking stick, and heads to his first class.
It's still a little while before class begins, but a few students are already in the room - they look much like you'd expect college students to look on their first day, vaguely nervous but ready to get started. The teacher has yet to arrive, and there are enough open spots for you to sit down pretty much anywhere you'd like.
This is a class that everyone needs to take, so the room is larger than normal, and class should be beginning in just a few minutes.
Rory sits where he always sits: as far back from where the professor will be as he possibly can. How else is he going to get away with playing Pokémon on the Game Boy emulator he downloaded to his laptop?
Michael sits somewhere a little closer to the front of class and pulls out a pencil and a notebook. He jots a couple of things down before class even starts. He seems eager, but glances around him looking a bit lost as well.
"Settle down." A woman walked into the room, then lightly rapped the blackboard. "Welcome to your first year at Miskatonic University. This is English 101; if you're here and this isn't on your schedule, then go see the registration office, because it should be. My name is Professor Alice Derleth, and I teach this in addition to a variety of courses in our Occult Sciences department, which I encourage all of you to consider attending while you're here. The purpose of this class is simple - we want to be sure you are able to clearly write down concepts and ideas once you begin studying them in your chosen line of research, so expect to be assigned essays as homework on a regular basis. Before we get started, though, let's find out who's actually here..." she picked up a clipboard and, quite calmly, began reading off names.
Male Human Expert 2 Marshal 1 [HP: 20, Init: +1, Perc: +7, AC: 11, Tch: 11, Flt: 10, Fort: 2 (+4 vs environment and suffocation), Ref: 1, Will: 3]
"I caught it, too. As for the class, it's mandatory. Everyone we've met so far is here."
Sigh... I just had the whole "my name is" vs "I am" discussion with my Marines like two weeks ago. Unless "Professor" is her first name. then nevermind.
Rory peeks over the top of his LT when she begins to speak. He sees the back and forth between Aiden and Walter and wonders what he's missing. He soon shrugs however and makes his Charmeleon use metal claw for the third time...
@Walter and Michael: uh...I don't mean to God-mode or anything, but dibs on Good Wyatt.
@Walter, I think it's safe to assume that Professor Derleth has little if any experience with the military (or proper usage of title).
Michael takes note the Professor's name and department. As his name is called, he raises his hand and, rather loudly for his seating, says "here."
Why is it a big deal to use a title as a prefix to a name when saying "my name is"? If someone were to be knighted, would they not be likely to say "My name is Sir Henry" rather than saying just "Henry"? What is the difference?
Male Human Expert 2 Marshal 1 [HP: 20, Init: +1, Perc: +7, AC: 11, Tch: 11, Flt: 10, Fort: 2 (+4 vs environment and suffocation), Ref: 1, Will: 3]
I guess both are correct, but they've always implies something differently to me: familiarity of lack thereof. "Hey we just met, my name is Walter." vs John: "Hey, you know that guy 'Walter' I was talking about yesterday?" Toby: "Yeah, why?" Walter: "Hi, I'm Walter." With titles, you'd never say "My name is Professor" ("Phil? His first name is 'Agent'." notwithstanding) because it's not a part of your name. This got longer than I thought it would be.
Indeed you wouldn't. Tsk, tsk, using incorrect grammar in an English class...
Roll call finishes without any particular problems, and the lessons - such as they are, considering it's the first day - begin. Professor Derleth leaves the room as soon as class is over, with only a vague comment that office visiting hours don't start until next week.
However, there's one more issue to deal with - namely, that each of your Grimoires is somewhat obsessively focused on a time later tonight, and they're not even the slightest bit shy about communicating their feelings to you. Of course, none of them have the power to make time move by faster, so you're free to do whatever you'd like until then.
We can either roleplay through that or you can submit a summary of your actions for the rest of the day and we'll move on - your choice!
Rory does his best to ignore the obsessive little book in his pack, and goes to his classes as scheduled, taking notes when necessary, playing games when not.
He eats the lunch he packed for himself...everything burrito...
After lunch he calls his girl back home and talks for an hour and a half completely missing the first 15 minutes of his last class...and not caring.
Afterward he heads back to the dorm to wait on the others.
Male Human Strange Paradox who Works the System 1 M 12/12 | S 9/9 | I 16/16 (E1)
"I speak and write just fine, thank you," Denton mutters quietly to himself in response to the Professor's remarks. He raises his hand when his name is called but doesn't speak up. Not quite passive-aggressive, but given her 'holier-than-thou' approach, no reason she shouldn't be made to work for her pay.
Time in the class seems to crawl, the feeling exacerbated by Denton's book gnawing at the base of his brain with... impatience? Wanting it to be later.
"You and me both, Lassie," he stage-whispers to his grimore.
Male Human Expert 2 Marshal 1 [HP: 20, Init: +1, Perc: +7, AC: 11, Tch: 11, Flt: 10, Fort: 2 (+4 vs environment and suffocation), Ref: 1, Will: 3]
Walter wanders the halls during his downtime and looks for a gym and either a track or some trails. He's not going to let a little thing like class (or insanity-inducing mysteries) stop him from keeping himself at a good level of physical activity. He does spend his lunch time with the book in his hands, specifically trying to find a way to communicate with it more than just via emoting.
Michael spends most of his classes the same, just taking notes on various things that may or may not be what the instructors are saying in an odd shorthand.
In his spare time, he wanders the halls not really paying attention to the things around him, unless to apologize for bumping into someone, and flipping through his odd magical book in different ways: forward, backwards, upside down, starting in the middle.
During lunch, he pulls out a pen and considers where to sign his name. Surely someone had to have had this book before me? he contemplates for some time until he seems to give up temporarily so he can chow down on some (hopefully) free food.
The day passes uneventfully, and other than their constantly-strengthening feelings, the Grimoires seem either unable or unwilling to respond to attempts to communicate with them. Time passes, and you finally head to bed...
Aiden:
As you dream, you find yourself in the ruins of the modern world. Beasts like nothing you've ever seen before pass by, hunting each other. None of them pay any attention to you for what seems like hours, but finally a large feline jumps down from the rubble and faces you. It seems like a lion, but larger and stronger, with three tails each tipped in an amethyst-like gem and yellow eyes that size you up first as prey... then as friend. Its aura of menace fades as it pads forward and looks you in the eye. "Welcome, Aiden." the beast says. "I am Las Reglas de Ruina, the Laws of Ruin. Together, we hunt a prey beyond anything you can understand." the beast tilts his head a bit. "Yet my teeth and my claws have been ripped away from me. Bring back my power, and I can help you become the hunter instead of the hunted. For now, this is all I can do... read me in the morning." Everything in front of you slowly fades to black - the last thing to go is the beast's bright, gleaming, and very pointy smile.
Denton:
As you dream, you find yourself in a library that goes on for as far as you can see - countless books are stacked on shelves, along with scrolls, tablets, and every other form of writing storage imaginable. Strange shapes seem to move along in the distance - and one of them eventually approaches you, revealing himself to be a handsome man in his early thirties. He's a little on the large side, but neither fat nor muscular, and a wearing casual robes that have countless pockets sewn into them. "Denton! Yes, very nice, isn't it?" he said. "As you've probably already figured out, yes, this is a dream. I'm sorry that we can't really talk normally; I'm more constrained in my abilities than I'd like." he puts his hands on his shoulders. "Listen to me very carefully. I need you to gather the pieces of my knowledge back together. With them, I can help you learn more - but as long as they're gone, it's like I have blanks in my memories. I've crafted something for you out of what little I still know; use it to the best of your abilities, all right?" he grins and waves as everything fades to black.
Walter:
As you dream, you find yourself in a dark forest... and moments later, a young woman on a broomstick crashes into you. "Wah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she screams, struggling visibly to regain control before crashing headlong into a tree. Eventually, though, she manages to do so, and she bows repeatedly to you while stammering out apologies. "I-It's all my fault, really! You were trying so hard on my behalf, but I just couldn't do anything at all! S-so please accept my precious thing, okay? I c-can't talk like this often, but I'll try to do it again soon!" She hops onto her broomstick and flies away, and your dream fades to black...
Rory:
As you dream, you find yourself in a pitch-black city, in a dark alleyway only slightly lit by a full moon that hangs high overhead. A shadow slowly moves off the sides of the walls, forming into the shape of a man, and you get the feeling he's looking at you. You are unable to move as he closes in, until his head is resting over your shoulder. "Things are not what they seem. Trust only yourself... and to help you, a gift." He melts away into shadows, and all the world goes black.
Michael:
As you dream, you find yourself on a small hilltop. Before you stands a tree, calmly waiting there. Unbidden, feelings seem to emerge within you - patience, consideration, steady growth... and ancient wisdom. The tree does not speak, but as the wind moves through a thousand branches, words seem to appear anyway. "Have patience, sapling from two soils. Grow where you will be nourished - and I will guide you." The wind ceases, and even as things fade away to black, a sense of comfort seems to fill you.
All Players:
You have reached Level 2! You may now advance in power through the appropriate NPC class. In addition, you have obtained Tier 1 of Mythic Power - like the abilities from your constellation choices, you will lose access to Mythic power and its bonuses if you are greater than 10 feet from your Grimoire... with one exception, explained below. At this tier, you must select the Legendary Item ability, but in all further tiers, you may select any appropriate choice for your powers.
The rules for Legendary Items in this campaign are as follows: Your legendary item must be a magic item that could be equipped within a slot - that is, not a weapon, armor, ammunition, etc., or a slotless item, but something more like a magic ring, belt, or cloak that you are able to equip. For our purposes, weapon-like items (such as any staff) count as weapons. Furthermore, the item you select must have a CL equal to or lower than your character level - right now, you can select magic items with a CL of 1 or 2. I do reserve the right to refuse any item if it wouldn't quite be appropriate for this campaign, but 3rd Party sources are just as acceptable as Paizo ones if you'd like to use them, and all items will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Each time you gain a level, you may select a new magic item with a CL equal to or lower than your character level - your legendary item will change to your new choice the next time you go to sleep. Note that the legendary item powers will NOT change - this is things like Mythic Bond, additional Legendary Power, etc. In addition to the standard abilities for legendary items, you may choose to embed certain spells within your legendary item (and your grimoire does not need to know the spell, but it must be of a level you can normally cast). If you wish to do so, I will help you come up with the rules for using it - do keep in mind that these spells will always cost at least one Legendary Power to use. Spells cast this way will not be cast under Magic Recharge rules, so you can cast them as often as you normally could as long as you have Legendary Power to pay. Of course, they can't be changed, so you may want to save this for higher levels when you can get spells you'll WANT to keep...
Finally, your legendary items are withdrawn from your Grimoires, and can be returned to them and stored within them as long as you're holding the Grimoire. Withdrawing your item from the Grimoire is a standard action, and it can be taken any distance from the Grimoire without penalty. You may access mythic power through your legendary item, but only to use in place of legendary power, and it still counts against your total uses for the day. The disbelieving effect of magic is still in place, and those without special powers will assume that a legendary item is what it looks like - a ring, a cloak, etc. They'll react accordingly.
After a long night, morning finally dawns - and your Grimoires are sitting beside you on the bed with an additional item on top. All of them seem immensely satisfied with themselves - and hopeful that you'll like what they've provided.
Rory wakes with a start after the creepy dream, and looks on his bedside table to his right where his grimoire was practically jumping with joy...ethereally anyway. Folded neatly on it's cover was a pair of light, black leather gloves.
He puts them on and can immediately tell they're going to be very...helpful.
Assisting gloves with the Teleport Legendary Item Ability. Mythic Feat: Skill Focus (Mythic). I'm sure you probably do, but do you have to take the mythic skill focus in the same skill as the mundane skill focus? My stealth is already at +12...I was thinking about putting it in disable device...
Cloak of the Hedge Wizard, with a focus on Enchantment, is an acceptable option for your item. ^^
As for the item ability... I believe Darkvision is only involved as one of the powers that Intelligent items can possess? Or are you looking at a 3rd Party source?
Michael sleeps in, finally waking up with a start and slapping his hand down on his grimoire as if it were an alarm clock. His hand grasps something unexpected and he finds a cool red and green bracelet with what he assumes is an inscription from some obscure language.
Putting it between his hands and facing the grimoire he says "Cool. Thanks, book." bowing his head at the end.
Seeing that he's running late for breakfast, he places the hemp bracelet on his right wrist, throws his books in his bag and starts to run to the cafeteria before suddenly stopping to contemplate something. He then begins to walk at a normal pace, seeming somewhat more aware of his surroundings than before.
Breakfast is much like what you'd expect from a University - hot, with lots of staple foods like eggs, hash browns, and similar items. Allison isn't present at the moment, but the Grimoires seem much more comfortable after the events of the night before...
Rory walks in wearing a light jacket, the gloves placed strategically in the front pockets thereof. He loads his plate, and sits down before he notices Aiden's new glasses. "Sweet specs Mr. Bennett, how's Claire?"
Male Human Expert 2 Marshal 1 [HP: 20, Init: +1, Perc: +7, AC: 11, Tch: 11, Flt: 10, Fort: 2 (+4 vs environment and suffocation), Ref: 1, Will: 3]
When Walter wakes, it's not the "opens one eye at a time and hides back under his blankets for five more minutes" routine that many people go through. When Walter wakes, he is instantaneouly awake and taking in his surroundings trying to determine whether anything has changed since the time he went to sleep.
He frowns at the cloak folded neatly on top of his grimoire and eyes it suspiciously. "That's new," he says to himself. No note. No indication that it was ever not there. Just a feeling of pride from Eibon. "Eibon? The hell? You know what, it's probably better that I don't start asking questions now of all times."
"FOOL!" The voice was clear and Walter looked around, still finding himself alone in the bedroom.
"Great. Now I'm hearing voices. I think." Walter grabs the cloak and unfolds it, running his hands along the material and marveling at its unique color. It is made of what appears to be soft, black wool on the outside and collar and, somehow, pearlescent silk lining on the inside with several pockets within easy reach as long as the cloak was pulled around the wearer. The tall, stiff collar had a single thick band of red on the inside that apparently served no design purpose.
"Curious. But after everything that's happened, I'm willing to trust Eibon's judgement on the thing."
"FOOL! The only judgement you should trust is mine!" Walter spins around, hearing a voice behind him but it takes a couple of turns before a sudden understanding comes over him: the cloak is speaking. The band of red comes unbidden to the front of his thoughts, and Walter takes the cloak off to verify his suspicions. "Cloak?"
"My legend dates back to the twelfth century, thank you very much. Where are you from? What is your name? What is your favorite number between one and twelve?"
"This ought to be fun. I'll see if one of the others has any duct tape if this thing doesn't shut up by the time I get down to breakfast."
-----
Walter meets the rest of the motley group wearing his new cloak, his grimoire under his arm, and backpack over one shoulder. "Gentlemen," he says, by way of greeting and then puts a finger to his lips, obviously asking for quiet while he pulls out a piece of paper and a pen. Don't acknowledge the cloak he scribbles, passing the paper around before allowing them to speak again. "How was everyone's night?"
Good god. I accidentally closed the tab I was writing this in just before I wrote the breakfast part. Started freaking out cause I wouldn't have been able to do it all again if I had to. All's well though. ctrl-t for the win. Ten points to anybody that gets Cloak's personality source material. Also, GM I've finished the crunch on everything I think. Take a look at Walter's profile when you get a chance and let me know if you see anything off. I swapped out Deadly Guidance for Mythic Sustenance.
I should probably note around now that I'd intended for the personalities of any intelligent items to be those of the Grimoires themselves... I really ought to have mentioned that sooner, so please accept my apologies for overlooking it. ^^;
Buuuut, since I do try to give a lot of creative freedom, there's probably a way to make it work if you'd prefer to have a different personality instead. ^^ Just, uh, keep in mind that you'll probably be changing the physical item on a regular basis, so anything that's too thematically tied to the physical item may become really awkward if you decide to switch to a totally different type of item next time you level up.
"Ey, Walter, e'nt yoo finely dressed? As fer me, I dremmed a pleasant dream." Michael gobbles some of his random assortment of food and points to his wrist. "I wonder what comes next? I think mine's calmed down a bit."
"Yeah, I had a visit from a classic fantasy roguish character in my dream. Not thinking its any coincidence that my constellation is the thief..." Rory chimes.
Male Human Expert 2 Marshal 1 [HP: 20, Init: +1, Perc: +7, AC: 11, Tch: 11, Flt: 10, Fort: 2 (+4 vs environment and suffocation), Ref: 1, Will: 3]
Walter gives Michael a vicious glare when Michael completely ignores the note passed to him not two minutes prior. Fortunately, the cloak doesn't decide to speak. The threat of giving it back to Eibon and never releasing it again must have worked to silence it, at least temporarily. At least that can only be a good sign. Or it's plotting against me. Stupid intelligent items. "So we've all had a dream related to the personalities of our grimoires that also yielded us each a new item. I don't know about you all, but I suggest we find a secluded area either during lunch or after classes have concluded for the day and figure out what these things can do, assuming they do anything at all. I somehow doubt that books of potentially earth-shattering magical power just want to dress us up."
Michael just smiles back at Walter, turning his hands up and shrugging his arms apologetically. "I don't know about that. Mine could just be trying to dress me up. I mean, so far it has pretty much just told me to sit around and eat." Bluff:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17Wow, way better than expected!
Sense Motive DC 17:
Michael is being intentionally vague and is oversimplifying things in order to gather information from the others. He was just too curious about Walter's cloak to not acknowledge it.
"Speaking of, lunchtime is a good idea."
GM:
Michael wonders to himself if he can trust the others in this group. So far, one has identified with a thief, one is paranoid about a gift, and the other seems very timid. He also doesn't fully grasp the grimoire's advice, though he believes that it means this group will be the best place for him to grow.
Male Human Expert 2 Marshal 1 [HP: 20, Init: +1, Perc: +7, AC: 11, Tch: 11, Flt: 10, Fort: 2 (+4 vs environment and suffocation), Ref: 1, Will: 3]
Sense Motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Walter picks up on the smallest of cues, an overly casual demeanor and a slight quaver of the voice, enough for him to understand that Michael is being intentionally difficult, though the reason why is not yet clear. Unwilling to reveal that he has seen through Michael's games, Walter says nothing in response.
"Ugh..." Allison slouched in, sat down, and banged her head on the table. "They could have been sensible about it, and said that humans could easily defeat these nasty things... but no, they had to think up stuff like magic humans don't get to resist so easily and make us all lose a bunch of sleep when the freaking books decide to act up!" she scowled at the wall for a moment... but by now, it was clear enough that she was just venting, and she certainly wasn't upset at anyone there. "Anyway, 'sup." she said in a far more normal tone, not looking away from the wall. "Who's up for getting all your impressions of dark and mysterious magic cults shattered by boring reality? Something came up, so the boss wants to talk to all of you this evening."
"Well since we're acknowledging them now, Walter, my grimoire seems to have solved my translation issues." Aiden adjusts his glasses, mostly to show them off. "These translate for me, though I haven't had a chance to test them."
After Allison speaks.
"Sure, but who is this boss? Allison when you get a chance, I'd like to speak with you in private."
"Sure, let's get it over with." Allison grumbled, standing up and heading for the door. "Oh, and the boss is the head of our little magic cabal. He's been at this longer than anyone else in the group, so we all tend to look to him for advice." Even if he was quite an... interesting... person. But that was normal at this University, so she couldn't complain too much.
If you'd really like to keep it private, we can do the talk over PMs. ^^ If not, just reply here.
